Ernesto Gonzales was a 62‑year‑old Hispanic male and a well‑known criminal defense attorney based in Harlingen, Texas, often referred to by the nickname “El Gallito.” He was last seen at his Harlingen office on **July 17, 2017**, and reportedly heard from or seen by anyone after that date. His sister formally reported him missing on **July 18, 2017**, and authorities immediately began investigating his disappearance.
In the days leading to his disappearance, Gonzales had filed a temporary protective order on **July 13, 2017**, against five extended family members, including siblings and other relatives. He stated in court filings that he feared for his life and described violent confrontations, alleging threats tied to family disputes over the care of their ailing mother and bureaucratic proceedings with Medicaid or Adult Protective Services. Gonzales claimed that he was forced to carry a concealed, unloaded pistol in his truck because of credible threats he perceived from his relatives.
Over the ensuing years, Harlingen Police Department worked in close coordination with the Texas Rangers and federal agencies while searching for Gonzales. His case was treated from the beginning as potentially linked to his legal practice and personal conflicts, particularly with family members. No confirmed sightings or communications occurred, and the investigation encompassed both personal and professional angles.
Nearly three years later, on **June 25, 2020**, law enforcement executed a search warrant on a property in La Feria, Texas—located north of Expressway 83 on Kansas City Road—owned by Gonzales’s nephew, **Solomon Campos**. During the search, human remains were discovered. Dental and forensic identification confirmed the remains belonged to Ernesto Gonzales.
Following the discovery, Campos was arrested shortly thereafter and charged with capital murder, kidnapping and stalking in connection with Gonzales’s disappearance and death. His bond was reportedly set at over $1.6 million. However, after a jury trial that began in late September 2024, Campos was **acquitted** of charges relating to Gonzales’s death on **October 15, 2024**, and was released following the not‑guilty verdict.
As a result, no one has been convicted in connection with Gonzales’s disappearance or death. While the remains have been identified, the case remains unsolved. Authorities continue to seek additional information, and the community has been encouraged to submit tips through Crime Stoppers, though no new charges have emerged at this time.
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This summary adheres strictly to verified online sources, detailing Ernesto Gonzales’s last known whereabouts, the familial disputes that preceded his disappearance, the investigation that led to the discovery of his remains, and the legal outcome involving his nephew.Last Seen: Jul 17, 2017
